Introduction, Abstract, Conclusion, Reference

Introduction
In hydraulic engineering practice, it is frequently necessary to estimate the head loss

incurred by a fluid as it flows along a pipeline. A fundamental understanding of fluid flow is
essential to almost every industry related with chemical engineering. Friction loss is the loss of
energy or head that occurs in pipe flow due to viscous effects generated by the surface of the
pipe (Munson, 2006).
Friction Loss is considered as a "major loss" and it is not to be confused with minor
loss which includes energy lost due to obstructions. Frictional energy loss (also called frictional
head loss or frictional pressure drop) which is known as major losses, generates a continuous loss
of energy or total head in the fluid and also causes decrease in the pressure of fluid as it moves
through the pipeline. It results from a number of system characteristics, which include velocity of
fluid, size (inside diameter) and shape of the pipe, roughness of the inside of the pipe and length
of pipe. While, minor loss is normally due to the obstructions in flow path, sudden or gradual
changes in the cross-section, bends, junction and valves.
In this experiment, we need to find out the friction loss in pipe for both laminar and
turbulent flows. The pressure or head losses can be determined by the pressure drop between two
points of pipe and the volumetric flow rate according to the Bernoullis principle. Two different
flow situations will be studied, laminar flow and turbulent flow. This chapter discussed about the
objective, scope and significance of the experiment related to the friction loss and minor loss
phenomenon.
1.1
Objective of experiment:
i) To measure head loss in pipes for different water flow rates, pipe diameters and pipe
roughness.
ii) To estimate the values of loss coefficient for pipes of different flow conditions, diameters
and roughness.
iii) To study the effect of the velocity of the fluid, the size (inside diameter) of the pipe, the
roughness of the inside of the pipe on the values of loss coefficient.
iv) To study the effect of sudden change in pipe diameter and flow direction on the total
energy or head losses in pipes.
1.2
Scope of experiment
This experiment has been done in order to determine head loss in pipes, estimate value of
loss coefficient for pipes, study the factors that affect the values of loss coefficient and
also study the effect of sudden change in pipe diameter as well as flow direction on the
total energy or head losses in pipes. During the experiment, rubber tubes of water
manometer are connected at inlet flow pressure (H1) and outer flow pressure (H2) for
different pipes and surfaces. The flow rate is being adjusted and the values of H 1 and H2
are recorded.
1.3
Significance of experiment
Below are the significance of this experiment:
i.
This experiment helps the students to understand the factors that cause a pressure
drop or head loss in a pipe and find out loss coefficient as well as the factor that affect
ii.
the loss coefficient.

This experiment helps students to know how to calculate the loss coefficient of
different flow conditions, diameters of pipe and roughness inside of the pipe and they
can apply this knowledge in the industry. For example, in refining and petrochemical
industries, these losses have to be calculated accurately to determine where booster
pumps have to be placed when pumping crude oil or other fluids in pipes to distances
iii.
thousands of kilometres away. (Rahman et. al., 2002)

By using the knowledge from the experiment, students were able to choose the proper
or suitable components for a fluid transfer process and hence help to reduce the
iv.
electricity cost and the usage of pump in house or factory.

Students are also able to determine the appropriate size and power requirements of
the pump needed for forcing the fluid through the pipe by calculating pressure losses.
Abstract
The development and accurate experimental results of friction loss in pipe apparatus
allows the detailed study of the fluid friction head losses which occur when an incompressible
fluid flows through pipeline. In this experiment, we are required to study the friction loss in
different pipes with different internal surfaces and minor loss in sudden enlargement, sudden
contraction pipe, and elbows or bend pipe. In order to determine the inlet flowing pressure (H 1)
and outlet flowing pressure (H2), firstly, the valve of the pipe is opened to allow water to flow in.
The flow rate is then being adjusted by using the control valve to different values. Five flow rates
is determined from highest value to lowest value as stated in experimental procedure. The value
of H1 and H2 is recorded in the tables and being organized. Relevant calculations are made to
compare results at different pipe, different diameter, different inner surfaces of pipe and different
flow rate of water with the theoretical value by using appropriate equations or formulae. From
the calculations and results, it was found that fexp of pipe 2A, 1A, sudden enlargement pipe and
90 bend pipe are quite far deviated from ftheo, which is , respectively./ loss coefficient On the
other hands, fexp of pipe 2B, 1B, sudden contraction pipe and elbow pipe show a small deviation
from ftheo, which is , respectively. Besides that, the values of K and n are determined from the
plotted graph and equation. The difference between the experimental and theoretical results are
compared and the effect of fluid flow rate as well as pipe geometry on energy loss is discussed.
The inaccuracy of the results obtained might due to some errors that have been proposed in this
report which also come with some suggestions to overcome it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, for the effect of pipe diameter and roughness, it showed that the friction losses are
inversely proportional to the Reynold Number that is proved by Blausius equation. The higher
the velocity of fluid will increase the friction loss in pipe. Friction losses for turbulent flow are
dependent to the pipe surface. The increase of diameter of the pipe decreased the friction losses.
The effect of sudden change in pipe diameter and flow direction showed that, for sudden
enlargement, the minor losses increases with the flow rate value. The minor loss decreases
between the theoretical and the experimental value for sudden contraction. Moreover, the elbow
pipe has the highest value of the loss coefficient (K) which had the greatest gradient of 1.2176.
Also the sudden pipe enlargement, its average value of Kavg is very much lower than the
theoretical value with 97.04% difference and the 90 bend pipe, its Kavg value is much closer to
the theoretical value with only 21.88% of difference.
Reference
Cengel, Y. A. and Cimbala, J. M. (2010). Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals And Applications. (2nd
ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill
Munson, B.R. (2006). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. (5th ed.) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.
Rahman, S. U., Tukur, N. M. and Khan, I. A. (2002). PC-Based Teaching Tools For Fluid
Mechanics. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sezai, I. (2010). Laboratory Handout Fluid Mechanics MENG353. Eastern Mediterranean
University, Turkey.
Singh, S. (2009). Experiments in Fluid Mechanics. (1st ed.). New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

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Introduction

In hydraulic engineering practice, it is frequently necessary to estimate the head loss

the loss coefficient.

thousands of kilometres away. (Rahman et. al., 2002)

electricity cost and the usage of pump in house or factory.

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